William J. Marshall is a flight nurse at Christiana LifeNet, Christiana Hospital, Christiana Care Health System in Newark, Del.

THE DISPATCHER of the local aeromedical transfer service calls the emergency department to inform you that a helicopter will be landing at your hospital in 10 minutes. You and your colleagues will be responsible to meet the aircraft and escort the patient and helicopter crew to a treatment room. Follow these tips for a safe and successful transfer.

Initial call. The helicopter dispatcher may be your only link to the helicopter. Try to find out this critical information:

* the number of patients * pertinent patient characteristics, such as medical conditions, age, sex, and race * what medical equipment to have ready * whether to initiate a trauma, heart, or stroke alert * whether the flight crew will need a stretcher at the landing zone (LZ).

Preparing the room. Before you meet the helicopter, organize the receiving ...

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